Archer Warns Of Wilderness Years
Lord Archer has warned the Conservatives that they face "years in the wilderness" unless they listen to their grass roots supporters.
Speaking on BBC radio Lord Archer vigourously backed calls from local Conservative associations to reform the way the party choses it leader.
"If MPs imagine they have the sole right to decide who our leader is they are living in a dream world", Lord Archer told Radio 4's Today programm. "The Labour Party and the Liberal Party both woke up to that two or three elections ago."
Lord Archer has acknowledged that it would be impossible to implement change before election of John Major's successor.
But he warned reform must come within the next five years. "If they don't change we will be in the wilderness for years."
The impending party leadership contest has provoked calls from Conservative associations for a greater say in the election process.
Lord Archer believes that unless local party members are given a say in the leadership election the Tory party could "lose members on the ground".
Conservative morale, at the local level, is at rock bottom after last Thursday's election wipeout which saw the Conservatives lost 187 seats.
At present the Conservatives are Britain's only major party whose members have no say in the election of their leader. The election is decided by the party's 165 MPs in the House of Commons.
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